Can opener and pouring holder



Dec. 26, 1950 D. L. CHURCHILL ET AL 2,535,783

CAN OPENER AND POURING HOLDER Filed Feb. 19. 1947 SL m my M M 5 mm M m" L L 5 w m r 1 Z x 170mm]: L SL'DTT BY I f TTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1950 2,535,783 CAN OPENER AND POURING HOLDER Donald Lee Churchill and Donald L. Scott,

Devon, Conn.

Application February 19, 1947, Serial No. 729,636

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensers for canned liquids and relates particularly to a can opener and pouring holder.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device adapted to be pressed into place over a can of evaporated milk, or the like, and which automatically perforates the can top and attaches itself to the can and provides a means of neat and attractive appearance for enclosing or concealing the can and through which the contents of the can may be poured.

- Amore specific object is to provide an apparatus of the above stated character including an improved means for automatically latching the apparatus to the can and which means is of simple and inexpensive construction, reliable in operation, and adapted to be readily shifted to released position to permit the removal of the device from an empty can.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing the combined can opener and pouring holder of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

' Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view taken as along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the latch means and surrounded portions;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of said latch means detached; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved can opener and pouring holder of the present invention is generally designated I0 and the same is shown as molded from any suitable plastic composition and as including a hollow body comprising a cylindrical or skirt-like portion I I and a top wall I2. The body is open at its lower end and as shown, said cylindrical or skirt-like portion II is externally tapered, so that while internally it is W a uniform, or substantially uniform, diameter,

externally it is of gradual increasing thickness (see Fig. 3) toward its lower end.

In such lower end the skirt portion is provided at its diametrically opposite sides with finger openings IS, the purpose of which will appear. The external thickening of the walls of the body I I gives the same a somewhat flared appearance, as suggested at I4. Across the top I2 the device includes a thickening rib I5, the forward face I6 of which is flush with a forward rib-like portion I1. The rear of the thickened portion I5 merges into a handle construction I8 which is shown as an integral part of the molding comprising the general I device.

Extending through the top wall I2 and, in fact, the thickened strengthening rib I5 of said wall, is a metal tube I9 the upper end of which is shown as flush with the upper surface of the rearward portion of the rib I5. Tube I9 extends vertically inwardly so as to project into the upper portion of the body I I and the inner end of the tube is out or is bevelled as at 2!] thereby providing a sharp penetrating point 2|. A second tube 22 extends through the top and the rib I5 and such tube is bent into an L whereby its outer end is located flush with the surface I6 while its inner end portion extends into the upper portion of the hollow body inwardly of the inner surface of the top I2. This projecting portion of tube 22 is also cut or bevelled as indicated at 23, providing it with a sharp penetrating point 24. I Located about the inner portions of the tubes I9 and 22 and against the inner surface of the top wall I2 of the holder are sealing gaskets 24 and'2 5, respectively. These gaskets are preferably of rubber or rubber-like material whereby they are compressible and whereby they may function as seals, all as will later appear. A longitudinally tapering slot-like opening 26 is provided, opening through the top wall I2 and, in fact, through the thickened rib portion I5 of said wall slightly rearwardly of the tube I9. This opening enters into the interior of the holder body I I.

A latch device 21 extends through said opening and has its inner portion secured to an inner surface of the skirt-like portion of the body I I, as by rivets or the like 28. In addition to the elongated body, the lower end of which is anchored by the rivets 28, the latch 21 includes a finger or thumb portion 29 located at the outer side of the holder and formed as by rolling up or reversedly bending the upper end portion of the latch device. Intermediate its ends, device 27 has a portion lanced and pressed from it thereby providing a tooth or lug so which in the completed device extends inwardly of or toward the vertical center of the body ll.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the latch 21 towards its inner end is provided with spaced openings 3| for the accommodation of the rivets, drive screws, or the like 28. The latch 21 is preferably formed of a spring metal as from strip stock of the desired width and the natural tendency of the same is to assume the vertical position shown'in Figs; 3 and 4. However, as the rear wall 32 of the slot 26 is tapered, it will be clear that by engaging the finger or thumb piece 29 of the latch, the same may be drawn rearwardly to.. .dispo,se its body. along said wall 32.

To maintain the can in a trulynerticaliposition; when in the present holder, the latter adjacentits lower edge, in its portion belowthelatch, 2,1,,is provided with a short, shallow rib 35; As best shown in Figs. 3 and 6 this rib is arcuate andiis shallow being in actual practice about one-eighth Qfgzfifl'liHCh thick atits mid-portion. =When'a, can 33 is in place within theholder this rib 351C011:- tactsether sidewallofv the can above: the lower bead ofthe latter to: prevent thecan-being tilted under. the lateral pressure. applied to the upper portion of the can by thespr-ing latch 21.

ltwvillabe understood that if thecan was-permitted to tilt or-oant there would be lateral. pressure; against the; seal- 2d and that the means 25 would be out. of" position and; wouldvnott make sealing con-tactwithpthecan top about the pouring tube; 22-. Thus, owing to--. the-presence of the rib- 3.5, .the.-can .is maintained intruly-vertical alignment with the body of the holderandefiectiye seals. about-thetubesal 91 and 22V is;- assured. In: the drawing, the rib; 3-51- is shown: as; formed separate from and; attached to' the holder, although'it will be understood/that this--is-a'manuf-acturing problem and; that the invention: is not limited tothe structure shown.

The holder; generally, designated It, as above suggested is preferably i formed of a suitable; plasticmaterial, as by i molding. The holderi maybe of l the? desired color 4 and may; bepprovided wi-th exterior ornamentation either in: the f-orni' of molded configuratiomor later. applied ornamentation. Preferably,-the-sameis. made-or'neat and attractive v appearance since it; is; designed to be used, on a, dining table. W hile thepresent, can opener andpouring holder isespecially adapted for use with cans of evaporated milk, it willz-be, understood 1 that :the same can; be applied to any can whichis adapted to be-opened for the-pouring out-ofits liquid contents.

When applying. the device of: the-- invention. to a,. can,,asfor, example, thercani33; the-device is simply. placed over or, loweredover. the can until the penetrating points. 2! andrMof, thertubes. ity and. 22 engage the can. Then; pressure isapplied, asa downward-thrustonthe-rib l 520i the devlce,.. tocause said, ends .of the, tubes -to penetratethroughtheupper walk of -the can.- Very little actual, pressure: is, required. since. the tube ends readily cutthrough the, cans-top. However, a. certain! downward thrustmust be given: and this thrustis continued ,'.until the toothBfi: springs under, the upper flange orlannular head 34. of the can as .to the, positions; shownin.Eigs.,3. and .4. Since-the tooth 3B, isrtaperedtowards its lower end, it will be apparent that the tooth-willsimply ride, over the bead.3ll..ras-the holder, 5!] is forced downwardly over the can. and. that.,immed-iate1y said tooth passesbelow. the bead, it will rsnapinto positionunder, the same,

jibe relationship of the, parts is such that the tooth 30 snaps into position below the bead 34 only after the tubes I9 and 22 have been caused to penetrate the can to a predetermined extent. The extent of penetration is such that the washers or gaskets 24 and 25 are sufficiently compressed between the inner surface of the wall l2 and the top of the can, about the tubes and the openings formed in the can top by the tubes, so as to effect a! sealto avoidany of the contents, oh the can escaping to th-e outer side of the top wall thereof. When the holder is forced into the proper posil tion on the can, there is an audible click as the toothfifisnaps, into position below the bead 34. With the holder positioned as described, the contentsv of'thei can is readily poured by gripping cthe holder by the handle l8 and manipulating the holder in thesame manner as a pitcher. The contents are poured out through the tube 22 1 andthe tube l9 serves merely as a vent providing for the admission of air-to replace the cans contents as such contents are poured. Sincethetube 22zisdirected. downwardly from its: pouring end,- itrwillvbe apparent that whenzthe device is -returned to an upright position after av -p ouringoperation, the. liquid remaining in, said. tube, will drain back into the can and not drip from the discharge end of the tube; I

.When the can is, emptied, the presentholderis easily removedv from thecan since, the personv gripping the handle l8 may, with the thumb or finger,v draw rearwardly onwthe-finger. piece 29. so as to hex the latch body backagainst the'inclinedwalL32 and draw the toothfromunder thebead 3 1. Then the holder issimplydi-ftedofi the cane,

Shouldthere. be. any tendencytostick,v the; lower endof; the canisgrippedthroughthe finger. openingsor notches. l3 in the, lower. edge of the holder and the parts separated.

As the can and holder, areassembled, there; is.

In a can opener and pouring device, a-moldedplastic hollow body having acylindricalside-wall open-throughits 'lower-endandia top wall integral with said side wall and forming a closure'for the upper endthereof, said body'adapted to be dispose'd'over-a can thecontents of which are to be poured, a handle along the rearward portion of said 'side-wall, said top wall thickened in --its"':-forward portion providing an eXtension at theupper endlofi'the iorward portion ofsaid sidewall,- a pair of metal tubes rigidlyengaged' in said top wall: and: extending downwardly.- therefrom-into thez,-hollow;of saidbody andarranged to .be forced throughthmtop of axcan when thebodyi is placed over: suchcan, saidtubesi spacedapart and comprising: a; rear venting tube; extending. directly through SaiCL tOp walland aj 'forwardlpouring :tube. curved :longitudinally and extending; upwardly and? forwardly; through said thickened top: wall portionand terminatinggfiush with the; forward face'of said thickened top wall portion;.:a latch on the can? DONALD LEE CHURCHILL. DONALD L. SCOTT.

REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Kitaoka June 29, 1920 Higbee Dec. 24, 1935 Karzenski May 23, 1939 Morehouse et al. Nov. 18, 1941 Searls Dec. 16, 1941 Hagan Dec. 8;, 1942 

